Evaluation of a digital tool supporting therapeutic decision making for the personalized management of patients with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin: A pilot study

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2023 Sep:203:110836. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110836. Epub 2023 Jul 20.

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the benefits of using the Personalized Treatment Tool (PTT), a web-based clinical decision support tool assisting the diabetologist in the evaluation of patient's clinical characteristics and SMBG data, in the management of patients with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes and inadequate glucose control.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, 16-week, cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Results: Eighty-two patients with 64.3 ± 9.4 years of age, disease duration 13.2 ± 9.1 years and HbA1c 7.8 ± 0.6%, 41 in the PTT group and 41 in the control group, completed the study. At follow-up, changes in indicators of glucose control and variability were not statistically different between the two groups. However, when considering the subgroup of patients on a single anti-diabetes drug at baseline (9 in the PTT group, 14 in the control group), changes in HbA1c and CGM-derived TIR 70-140 mg/dl, 24-hour MSG, GRADE, and HBGI were significantly improved in the PTT group compared to the control group.

Conclusion: When performed in a structured manner and used to modify the diabetes therapy through an algorithm-driven digital tool, SMBG can lead to significant improvements of glycemic control and variability in patients with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin.

Keywords: Diabetes therapy; Personalized treatment tool; SMBG; Type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Glucose
  • Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Decision Making
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Insulin
  • Insulin, Regular, Human / therapeutic use
  • Pilot Projects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin, Regular, Human